This weekend will be dominated both regionally and nationally by the second edition of the Grainger Trust Northumberland Tour.

As part of British Cycling's 10-event Premier Calendar series, it is the only top-flight event to enter the North East this year.

In contrast to the inaugural 2002 event, this one has not only a full field but 80 of the country's top amateurs, the best of the home-based professionals and, with a few notable exceptions, a few of the continental ones as well.

They include Bradley Wiggins of the French Division One team La Francais de Jeux.

Wiggins has had a tough season so far, riding mainly in the tough Spring Classics in Belgium, France and Italy. He has a best placing of 50th in the Tour of Flanders, where he was third best British finisher.

Another to watch will be former continental pro Malcolm Elliott, who is still in his first five months of racing in nearly six years. At the age of 41, he holds third place in the series.

Also riding are John Tanner, last season's Premier Calendar winner, runner-up Mark Lovatt, team mate Kevin Dawson, Matt Stephens and Andy Collis, and that means the event has seven out of the current Premier Calendar top 10.

Last year's winner Julian Winn, who has just finished his first major stage race, the Giro D'Italia, where he finished 82nd but satisfied, is listed as a reserve due to his late entry. As someone who stopped the domination of the Compensation Group RT last year, as well as winning the National Championships, he will no doubt be given a warm welcome, riding this season in the colours of the Danish Fakta squad.

Heading the local charge will be Cleveland's reigning Track World Points champion Chris Newton, who is only one of a number of current national or world champions riding the event.

Newton, like most of the national track squad, does most of his training on the road and comes to the event with success in the Eight-Day Irish Milk Race on his list of honours so far this season.

Also riding will be North East Divisional Champion Rick King, who heads a three-man VS Briganti team along with Steve Kenny and Steve Gibson.

Saturday's stage starts at 11am from the Morpeth Harriers Club House on the B6343 on the North side of Morpeth and tackles three laps of a 23-mile route heading via Pigdon to Netherwitton, Rothley, Scots Gap and back to Mitford to commence a second lap.

On the third lap, the race swings to Whalton via Meldon and finishes at Tranwell after three laps of the Saltwick circuit.

The flatter 76-mile Stage 2 on Sunday starts at 11am from Wansbeck Business Park in Ashington. The riders will head through Pegswood and Stobswood on the 15-mile run-out to the circuit at Acklington to sort out a 10-mile loop to South Broomhill via Woodside, then Togston, Walkworth and back to Acklington after five laps before heading back to the finish at Ashington on the A197.

The field compete for a &#xA3;3,000 prize list over the two-day event from the funds of the Grainger Trust, many of whose properties will be visited by the event during the weekend.

NFerryhill Wheeler James Anderson cemented his promotion to Second Category status when he rode off the front of the Derwentside CC promoted Slaley Circuit road race along with his breakaway companion Graeme Huston (Zeus CRT) and was never seen again. Anderson eventually dropped Huston for a solo win.

NThe Summer Australian Pursuit Series is now onto Round 3. Chris Nye is the organiser of the Hetton Lyons event on 0191-264 4291. All categories are catered for in two events, Under-8-16 start at 7.0 with 1/2/3/4/ at 7.30.